Toy piano.



A. E. JACOBS.

TOY PlANO.'

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20. 191].

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

c u N o T a m u s A w o c frame, and means for MUNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

ARTHUR E. JACOBS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TOY PIANO.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. JACOBS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Pianos, of which I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and'exact description, such as will. enable others skilled in the art to which'it appertains to make and use the same. 7

The objects of the invention are to provide a. durable and efiicient" toy' musical instrument of simple construction and designed to produce a singing note of good quality by means of finger keys and hammers in the'manner of a piano.

The invention comprises, a hollow metallic' case of piano form, a frame slidingly movable therein, metallic toneprodu cing bars, loosely supported -thereon, and spaced from the case, and key-operated striking hammers inclosed within the frame and operated by means of a key board projecting beyondthe case, so as tob'e accessible to the player. i

The invention also includes means for preventing the hammers from continuing in contact withthe metallic bars after striking them, cushioning means for supporting the bars to prevent contact with the metal pivoting the keys in the frame so that they will remain in place therein. The hammers are also pivoted so that they can not be removed except by removing the frame.

The invention also comprises the combination and arrangement of parts and con struction of details hereinafter described, shown inthe accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section thereof;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the finger-operated keys; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a-portion of the plate in which the keys are pivoted showing the looped projections at the lower end in which rests the pivot shaft for the keys. Attached to this plate is shown the transverse plate which closes the front opening of the piano frame. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the hammers and a portion of the pivot plate for the hammers, Fig. 5 is a perspective view reduced in size of the inner frame of the piano.

Specification of Letters Patent.

formed of keys E,

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Application filed February 20, 1911. Serial No. 609,650.

In these views A is a hollow sheet metal case, shaped preferably to appear like a miniature grand piano and provided with openmgs B for the outlet and distribution of sound, and provided with a folding music rack D, and with a projecting portion E open at the top in which the key board E is located.

F is a frame in which the mechanism of the piano is secured, so that the parts will stay in position when assembled together, and will endure rough usage without injury. In this frameis secured the elevated horizontal plate G provided with a longitudinal opening G over which are secured the metal sound bars H, one for each note, and hence of graduated length.

Each bar rests upon felt or other non resonant supports I, I so as not to communicate vibration to the frame and case, and disturb the quality of the sound. Each ,bar is secured in place by means of upwardly turned integral tongues 'J, J which pass through openings J, J in the bar and have turned over tips to prevent the dislodgment of the bar. I

The front of the frame is provided with an elevated transversely arranged vertical plate K which is vertically slotted at its lower edge at K to form supporting members K which are curved to inclose the pivot shaft L on which the keysE, E rest. GroovesE E form bearings which prevent the keys from being withdrawn, and each key is preferably provided with two projecting parts E which pass through the slots K. The shaft is put in place after putting in the keys and locks them in posi tion.

The front edge of each key is provided with a projection E which passes underneath a ledge M upon the front plate M of the case, and hence the keys cannot be re moved although they can work freely on their pivot shaft. Beneath the keys and pivoted upon a vertical plate N are the hammers which are preferably formed with wire stems O and wooden heads 0. The stems are set in or wound about the hammer butts O which are notched at O and the plate N enters the notch.

The upper edge of the plate N is also preferably notched at N for the passage of the lower edge of the loop R of the wire stem and serves to hold the hammers in place, and separates the hammers and in this face E extends preferably to manner they are retained in place since the keys rest upon them and hold them down from above.

It will be observed that each key is provided with a straight lower face E which corresponds with the upper face 0 of the hammer butt 0 when the key is depressed, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This forward of the pivotal point of the hammer so that when the key is depressed and after the first concussion with the sound bar has taken place to produce the sound, the hammer will be withdrawn to the dotted position shown and out of contact. with the sound bar, so that no amount of pressure upon the key will make such an engagement possible and hence the vibration of the bar will produce a clear ringing sound which is first obtained by a sharp stroke upon the key and the hammer is instantly withdrawn. 7

The upper transverse plate P is attached the frame and plate K and can be withdrawn therewith when the lower .plate M has been removed. The frame can be removably attached to the case, as by means of a screw 5 or other suitable means.

- In Fig. 6 the frame is illustrated, detached from the other parts.

Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v 1

1. In a toy piano,a case, a frame therein, a series of sound bars, supported in an elevated part of said frame, a series of pivoted hammers adapted to engage said bars, a series of pivoted keys adapted to engage said I hammers, the engaging surfaces of said keys and hammers passing on both sides of the pivot point of said hammers, and adapted Copies of this patentmay be obtained for engagement of the hammers with said bars, after the bars have been struck.

2. In a toypiano, the combination with a series of sound bars and hammers, each including a pivoted block, said block having a flat upper surface, a series of pivoted keys, each provided with a corresponding lower flat surface, the meeting surfaces of each key and block extending on both sides of the pivotal point in each block, and adapted to engage when the key is fully lowered.

3, In a toy piano, a hollow metal case having sound emitting openings, a frame therein, an elevated horizontal plate in said frame, said plate having alongitudinal opening, a series of spaced vertical lugs elevated upon said plate, a series of sound producin bars having openings through which sai lugs pass, non-resonant members on said plate on which said bars rest, a vertical lower plate, a series of hammers and supporting members therefor, said members notched for pivotal bearing on said vertical plate, an upper vertical plate at the front of said frame, provided with vertical slots in its lower edge, upwardly turned members between said slots, a shaft resting in said upwardly turned members, and said late rovided with grooves in which sai sha t is inserted, projections on keys, and a retaining plate provided with a rearwardly extending flange passing over said projections. I

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 14th day of February, 1911.

ARTHUR E. JACOBS.

to prevent the front of said.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentl, I Washington, D. 0. 

